Brick-hook.



J. M. & R. A. MoKAY.

BRICK HOOK. APPLIUATION FILED 811F124, 19104 Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

JESSE MARTIN MCKAY AND ROBERT ALFRED MCKAY, OF OLATHE, COLORADO.

BRICK-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9,1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JEssE M. MOKAY and ROBERT A. MOKAY, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Olathe, in the county of Montrose and Stateof Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBrick-Hooks, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is an improved brick hook such as are used for liftingand carrying a number of bricks simultaneously, the object of theinvention being to effect improvements in the construction of the brickhook whereby the same is provided with a pair of angularly movable aws,whichare adapted to be simultaneously closed against the outer sides ofthe end bricks and to combine with the said angularly movable jaws, ahandle, and connections between the handle and the jaws for exerting thesame leverage on both of the said jaws, and thereby insuring thegripping of the jaws on the end bricks, so that all of the bricks may belifted by the hook and also facilitate the disengagement of the jawsfrom the end bricks when the latter are deposited on a supportingsurface, the invention consisting in the construction, combination andarrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the acompanying drawings-Figure 1 is an elevation of a brick hookconstructed in accordance with our invention showing the same engagedwith a number of bricks for lifting and carrying the latter. Fig. 2 is aplan of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section.

In the construction of the embodiment of our invention, here shown, weemploy a plate or bar 1 of suitable dimensions which is adapted to beplaced on a number of bricks, say eight, on the upper edges of thebricks, and at a point substantially midway between their ends. The saidbar or plate is provided at points midway between its side edges withvertical longitudinal slots 2, which extend inwardly for a suitabledistance from the ends of the said plate. The jaws 3 forengaging theouter sides of the end bricks are each provided with a lever arm 4. Thesaid lever arms operate in the slots 2 of the plate or bar 1, arepivotally mounted near the ends of the plate on bolts 5, which extendtransversely through the plate and through said lever arm, and the innerends of the lever arm are upturned as at 6 so as to lie above the saidplate. The inner ends of the lever arms extend over the inner ends ofthe slots and hence limit the downward movement of the lever arms bycoming in contact with the link plate. The handle 7 is connected to theupturned inner end of the lever arms of the jaws by means of links 8,each link being pivotally connected at its upper end as at 9 to one endof the handle, and pivotally connected at its lower end as at 10, to theinner upturned end of one of the lever arms.

In the operation of the device, when a number of bricks are to be liftedthereby, the plate is placed on the bricks, and the device is thenlifted by the handle, the latter by reason of its connection with thelever arm of the jaws exerting like leverage on both of the jaws, andclosing them against the outer sides of the end bricks so that thebricks are so firmly gripped by the jaws that all of them may be readilylifted by the hook and taken to any desired point. When the bricks aredeposited, the lever arms, the handle, and the links by gravity releasethe jaws from the end bricks as soon as the lifting force on the handleis relaxed, as will be understood.

The plate or bar 1 is in effect a yoke to bear on the bricks to belifted and to connect the jaws together.

While we have here shown and described what we regard as the preferredembodiment of our invention, we would have it understood thatmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of ourinvention and within the scope of the appended claim.

It will of course be understood that our improved hook which is hereinentitled a brick hook can be used for handling stone, concrete and otherblocks, as well as bricks.

We claim 2- i The herein described brick hook comprising a link platehaving a solid central portion and longitudinal slots extendingtherefrom to the ends of the link plate, gripping jaws pivotally mountedin the outer ends of said slots and each having a lever arm extendinginwardly therefrom, operating in one of said slots-and having its innerend up-turned and extending above the link plate and over the inner endof the slot so that the said up-turned inner end forms a stop to bear onthe solid central portion of the link and limit the downward movement ofthe lever arm a handle above the solid In testimony whereof We hereuntoafiix 10 central portion of the link plate, and links our signatures inthe presence of tWo Withaving their lower ends pivotally connectednesses. t0 the up-turned inner ends of the lever arms and their upperends pivotally oon- JESSE MARTIN MOKAY' nected to the ends of thehandle, the inner ROBERT ALFRED A ends of the. lever arms being spacedapart Witnesses:

and the handle extending over the space he ROBERT D. APPLEGATE,

tween them. H. C. SHOWALTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

